Norwegian Gem restaurants

[reporterjen]

I'm considering booking on what appears to be the first (though officially pre-inaugural) cruise by the Norwegian Gem departing Oct. 8. I'm having trouble tracking down much information about the ship's restaurant offerings. I'm expecting some of the NCL standards such as LeBistro, but has anyone seen specifics?

Thanks,

Jen.

[markf]

doesnt the NCL website have details--I thought I read the Gem is similar to the Jewel--as faras restaurants

[Host Kewlguy]

I'm considering booking on what appears to be the first (though officially pre-inaugural) cruise by the Norwegian Gem departing Oct. 8. I'm having trouble tracking down much information about the ship's restaurant offerings. I'm expecting some of the NCL standards such as LeBistro, but has anyone seen specifics?

Thanks,

Jen.

 

It's practically identical to the Pearl.

[reporterjen]

Interestingly, our cruise choices are between the Gem, the Pearl and a Royal Caribbean ship for an early October sailing in Europe. So, there's good odds we'll end up on the Pearl/Gem -- and it sounds like either way, it'll be a similar experience.

 

I knew the Pearl and Gem were sister ships, but I didn't know if the similarities extended to programming and restaurant offerings. The descriptions at NCL.com didn't really quell my curiosity.

 

Here's what NCL has to say about the Gem:

11 bars & lounges to explore

12 restaurants

A four-lane, mood-lit bowling alley

Exclusive Courtyard Villas and Garden Villas, which is how you add the word "decadent" to your vocabulary

Flexible, inter-connecting staterooms perfect for families or groups

NCL's Suites and Villas - click here to experience the luxury

New York departures

 

Here's what NCL has to say about the Pearl:

Check out the hip new Bliss Ultra Lounge, a bowling alley/sports bar/night club complex where you'll want to hang out.

Choose from Asian dishes at Lotus Garden, tapas at Mambos, French at Le Bistro, steak at Cagney's and so much more.

Our Courtyard Villas, located on exclusive Deck 14, share a private-access courtyard with pool, hot tub, exercise room, sundeck, cabanas, and more.

Two 4,390 square foot Garden Villas may entice you with three separate bedrooms, private garden with hot tub, and access to a private courtyard with pool.

NCL's Suites and Villas - click here to experience the luxury.

 

Thanks,

Jen.

[[g]cruiserke]

If you do decide to join us on the Gem's inaugral, feel free to join our Roll Call!

[ktpc2005]

If you look at the deck plans it shows the following restaurants:

 

Tsar's Main Restaurant- Deck 6

Azura Main Restaraunt- Deck 6

Le Bistro- Deck 6

Chin Chin Asian Restarunt-Deck 7

Teppanyaki-Deck 7

Sushi/Sake Bar-Deck 7

2 Restaraunts (No Name)-Deck 8 Midship (On Pearl: Mambos and Blue Lagoon)

Garden Cafe Buffet- Deck 12

Mama's Italian Restaraunt-Deck 12

Cagney's- Deck 13

[reporterjen]

KTPC, great minds think alike. I just came back to the post to add info from my deck plan investigation, which probably mirrors yours. I'll check out Azura, the only one I'm not familiar with from other NCL ships or whose cuisine is not obvious from the title.

 

Thanks for the help!

Jen.

 

 

Azura

le Bistro

Teppanyaki

Chin Chin Asian Restaurant with Sushi bar and sake bar

Fyzz Lounge and Bar

The Great Outdoors - free

Mama's Italian Kitchen (not sure if this is a surcharge or a free "specialty")

Garden Cafe (with the ice cream bar) - free

Cagney's Steakhouse w/ Star Bar

Sky High Bar

Spinnaker Lounge

[electricron]

Here's a list of restaurants aboard the Norwegian Gem:

 

Summer Palace (Main Dining Room)

Cuisine: Continental

Surcharge: No

Reservations Required: No

 

Indigo (Main Dining Room)

Cuisine: Continental

Surcharge: No

Reservations Required: No

 

Le Bistro French Restaurant

Cuisine: French

Surcharge: Yes, $15 per person

Reservations Required: Yes

 

Cagney's Steakhouse

Cuisine: Steakhouse

Surcharge: Yes, $20 per person

Reservations Required: Yes

 

La Cucina Italian

Cuisine: Italian

Surcharge: No

Reservations Required: Yes

 

Lotus Garden Asian Restaurant

Cuisine: Asian

Surcharge: Yes, $15 per person

Reservations Required: Yes

 

Mambos Latin/Tapas Restaurant

Cuisine: Latin/Tapas

Surcharge: No

Reservations Required: No

 

Garden Cafe

Cuisine: Continental

Surcharge: No

Reservations Required: No

 

The Great Outdoors

Cuisine: Buffet

Surcharge: No

Reservations Required: No

 

Blue Lagoon

Cuisine: Snacks

Surcharge: No

Reservations Required: No

[Schmuppie's Mom]

Thansk Electricron, that's great info.

 

Has anybody else noticed that the deck plan for the Gem on the NCL website doesn't match up with the ship's description? For example, we've agreed to a GTY room, and I wanted to make sure we didn't wind up with cabins above the bowling alley. I went to the NCL website to find the bowling alley, and I don't even see it anywhere! I think it's supposed to be on Deck 7, but darned if I can find it. Is it just me? :confused:

[ute_fan]

No, it's not just you. When I look at the deck plans (deck 7 in particular), it looks like it's the one from the Jewel. The shops are aft, with the nightclub (Fyzz) more midship. On the Pearl, the shops are forward and Bliss nightclub (where the bowling alleys are located) are aft.

 

The deck plans also indicates that the main restaurant, aft, will be called Tsar's Palace -- which is the name of the one on the Jewel. On the Pearl, it's Summer Palace. Looking at the deck plans, it looks to me like the Gem is linking to the same deck plans as the Jewel, while the descriptions more closely match those of the Pearl.

 

As far as your guarantee room, have you been assigned a number yet? If so, I'd check the deck plans for the Pearl to see where the location is rather than relying on the ones currently listed for the Gem.

[Catamount71]

I used the deckplans for the Pearl to pick my stateroom for the Gem. It appears to be correct with Bliss and the bowling alley at the back of the ship.

[Schmuppie's Mom]

I thought they were trying to gaslight me! :D

 

No, we haven't been assigned a room yet. Our TA thinks the longer they wait to give us the room, the better room we'll get, seeing as how all of the upgraded rooms (i.e. balcony, etc.) are booking up. She certainly sounds like she knows what she's talking about!:p

[ktpc2005]

I was looking around the NCL website and came to the Gem's page and they look like they put the finalized names of the

 

Grand Pacific Main Dining Room: Deck 6 Aft

Magenta Main Dining Room: Deck 6 Mid

Le Bistro French Restaruant: Deck 6

Orchid Asian Restaurant/Tappanyaki/Sushi: Deck 7

Cagney's Steakhouse: Deck 13

Tequila Latin/Tapas Restaurant: Deck 8

Garden Cafe/Kid's Cafe and Great Outdoors: Deck 12

La Cucina Italian Restaraunt: Deck 12

Blue Lagoon: Deck 8

Topsider's Grill: Deck 12

Room Service:Wherever your room is

 

Bars

Spinnaker Lounge: Deck 13

Gem Club Casino Bar: Deck 6

Bliss Ultra Lounge & Night Club: Deck 7

Maltings Beer and Whiskey Bar: Deck 6

Star Bar: Deck 13

Java Cafe and Internet Cafe: Deck 7

Shakers Martini and Cocktail Bar: Deck 6

Bali Hai Bar and Grill: Deck 13

Topsiders Bar and Grill: Deck 12

Great Outdoors Bar: Deck 12

[electricron]

I was looking around the NCL website and came to the Gem's page and they look like they put the finalized names of the

 

Grand Pacific Main Dining Room: Deck 6 Aft

Magenta Main Dining Room: Deck 6 Mid

Le Bistro French Restaruant: Deck 6

Orchid Asian Restaurant/Tappanyaki/Sushi: Deck 7

Cagney's Steakhouse: Deck 13

Tequila Latin/Tapas Restaurant: Deck 8

Garden Cafe/Kid's Cafe and Great Outdoors: Deck 12

La Cucina Italian Restaraunt: Deck 12

Blue Lagoon: Deck 8

Topsider's Grill: Deck 12

Room Service:Wherever your room is

 

Bars

Spinnaker Lounge: Deck 13

Gem Club Casino Bar: Deck 6

Bliss Ultra Lounge & Night Club: Deck 7

Maltings Beer and Whiskey Bar: Deck 6

Star Bar: Deck 13

Java Cafe and Internet Cafe: Deck 7

Shakers Martini and Cocktail Bar: Deck 6

Bali Hai Bar and Grill: Deck 13

Topsiders Bar and Grill: Deck 12

Great Outdoors Bar: Deck 12

 

That's good news. Alas, they still haven't updated the Deck Plans.

[Dolphins]

Are they planning to have any half-price nights on the Gem in any of the specialty reastaurants or have they also become extinct like the free pool towels?

[electricron]

Are they planning to have any half-price nights on the Gem in any of the specialty reastaurants or have they also become extinct like the free pool towels?

 

Half-price restaurant surcharges exist on some NCL ships, and don't on others. On those that do, various scenarios exist. It depends upon how popular the specialty restaurants are, and if NCL needs to drum up more business. We'll just have to wait and see.

[Len3]

Can't wait for the first reviews to be posted. We've been excited for months and we don't sail until February.